Local dilatation (swelling and weakening) of the wall of a blood vessel, usually the result of atherosclerosis and hypertension; especially serious when occurring in the aorta, when rupture may prove fatal.
Abnormal, saclike bulge in the wall of an artery, a vein, or the heart.
Sac formed by dilatation of artery, vein, or heart wall.
A swelling caused by the weakening of the wall of a blood vessel.
Saclike widening in a blood vessel; it occurs most often in the aorta but can also occur in other blood vessels. Aneurysms are usually caused by atherosclerosis or hypertension, sometimes by trauma, infection, or other factors. An aneurysm may rupture, causing hemorrhage, or it may lead to the formation of thrombi and/or emboli that may block an important blood vessel. Common types of aneurysms include aortic aneurysm (aneurysm of the aorta) and cerebral aneurysm (aneurysm of any of the major arteries within the brain). Treatment includes use of drugs to reduce the force of cardiac contraction, analgesic and antihypertensive drugs if indicated, and, in some cases, surgical resection of the aorta or affected artery,
A localized dilation of the wall of a blood vessel.
A sac formed by dilation of a weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel, generally an artery. When the area ruptures, severe bleeding may result. Aneurysms most commonly occur in the chest, abdomen, and brain.
An abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of a blood vessel. Common risk factors for aneurysms include hypertension (high blood pressure), atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), and smoking. Two of the most common and serious types are cerebral aneurysms and aortic aneurysms.
A balloon like swelling in the wall of an artery. This may be due to degenerative disease or syphilitic infection, which damages the muscular coats of the vessel, or it may be the result of congenital deficiency in the muscular wall. An aortic aneurysm may develop anywhere in the aorta. A dissecting aneurysm usually affects the first part of the aorta and results from a degenerative condition of its muscular coat. This weakness predisposes to a tear in the lining of the aorta, which allows blood to enter the wall and track along (dissect) the muscular coat. A dissecting aneurysm may rupture or it may compress the blood vessels arising from the aorta and produce infarction (localized necrosis) in the organs they supply. The patient complains of severe chest pain that has a tearing quality and often spreads to the back or abdomen. Surgical repair may help in some cases. A ventricular aneurysm may develop in the wall of the left ventricle after myocardial infarction. A segment of myocardium becomes replaced by scar tissue, which expands to form an aneurysmal sac. Heart failure may result or thrombosis within the aneurysm may act as a source of embolism. Some aneurysms within the brain are congenital: there is a risk that they may burst, causing a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Charcot-Bouchard aneurysms are small aneurysms found on tiny arteries within the brain of elderly and hypertensive subjects. These aneurysms may rupture, causing cerebral hemorrhage.
A localised swelling or dilatation of an artery due to weakening of its wall. The most common sites are the aorta, the arteries of the legs, the carotids and the subclavian arteries. The aorta is the largest artery in the body and an aneurysm may develop anywhere in it. A dissecting aneurysm usually occurs in the first part of the aorta: it is the result of degeneration in the vessel’s muscular coat leading to a tear in the lining; blood then enters the wall and tracks along (dissects) the muscular coat. The aneurysm may rupture or compress the blood vessels originating from the aorta: the outcome is an infarction in the organs supplied by the affected vessel(s). Aneurysms may also form in the arteries at the base of the brain, usually due to an inherited defect of the arterial wall.
Localized abnormal dilatation of a blood vessel, usually an artery, due to a congenital defect or weakness in the wall of the vessel.
A blood-filled weak spot that balloons out from the wall of an artery.
Weakness in the arterial wall allowing the formation of a balloon like pouch. A ruptured aneurysm is a serious, often fatal, condition.
A localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel due to weakness in the vessel wall.
A vulnerable spot in a blood vessel where the pressure exerted by the blood leads to the protrusion or bulging of the vessel wall.
Aneurysm is characterized by the abnormal dilation or ballooning of an artery, which occurs due to the pressure exerted by blood flowing through a weakened area of the arterial wall. This weakening can be attributed to various factors such as disease, injury, or a congenital defect present from birth.
Atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the accumulation of fatty deposits, is the primary cause of aneurysms. These deposits weaken the arterial wall, leading to the development of an aneurysm. Atherosclerotic aneurysms most commonly occur in the aorta, which is the typical site for their formation.
Aneurysms can occasionally occur as a result of a congenital weakness in the walls of the arteries present since birth. Most cerebral aneurysms, which are referred to as berry aneurysms due to their appearance, are congenital in nature. Aneurysms located just above the heart are often associated with Marfan syndrome, an inherited disorder characterized by a defective aortic wall. Inflammation, such as that seen in polyarteritis nodosa, can also contribute to the weakening of the arterial wall. A dissecting aneurysm occurs when the inner layer of the artery wall ruptures, leading to the tracking of blood along the artery’s length and blocking any branches. Ventricular aneurysms, which develop in the heart wall, are sometimes a result of a localized weakening of the heart muscle following a heart attack.
Several typical types, locations, and forms of aneurysms are depicted in the accompanying visual representation.
The majority of aneurysms go unnoticed as they typically don’t present any symptoms. However, in cases where an aneurysm rapidly expands, leading to pain or if it reaches a significant size, symptoms arise due to the pressure exerted on neighboring structures. Aneurysms can eventually rupture, resulting in life-threatening blood loss, or, in the case of cerebral aneurysms, leading to loss of consciousness (referred to as subarachnoid hemorrhage). Dissecting aneurysms often cause intense pain and carry a high risk of vessel rupture. While ventricular aneurysms rarely rupture, they do disrupt the heart’s pumping function.
Ultrasound scanning can be utilized to detect aortic aneurysms, while CT scanning or MRI is employed for identifying cerebral aneurysms. Angiography offers a more comprehensive assessment of aneurysm types. In cases of a ruptured or enlarged aneurysm, prompt arterial reconstructive surgery is necessary.
The expansion or swelling of the wall of an artery or vein that has been weakened by illness or trauma.